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2019 Moto Guzzi V85 TT Price Revealed in America

The 2019 Moto Guzzi V85 TT adventure’s price has been revealed in America.
The V85 TT is full of features to rival other bikes in the category.
It is aggressively priced among its rivals.

The 2019 Moto Guzzi V85 TT is the Italian firm’s foray into the still-expanding adventure market. Teased earlier and finally officially launched at INTERMOT this year. There is much enthusiasm for it since.

There are not much other details since then. However, we just learned that Moto Guzzi has revealed the V85 TT’s price in the United States of America.

Priced aggressively, it starts at USD 11,990 (RM 50,202.13) MSRP (Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price) for the grey paint option. On the other hand, the V85 TT Adventure, complete with red/yellow/white paint and panniers retails for USD 12,990 (RM 54,389.13).

Those are prices in the States, of course. Both bikes will be available in the US from May 2019. We will get confirmation if and when it will appear here.

The Moto Guzzi V85 TT is chock-full of features. Its new 850cc, 90^oV-Twin engine produces 80 bhp and 80 Nm of torque.

That price includes a TFT screen, LED lighting, Cornering ABS, traction control, and three riding modes. The suspension is fully adjustable with 170mm travel up front. Moto Guzzi claims the 21-litre fuel tank can return a range of up to 402 kilometres. The bike weighs in at 208 kg, dry.

Looks like the middleweight adventure market wars is heating up!

2019 BMW C 400 GT Introduced

The 2019 BMW C 400 GT was introduced at EICMA 2018.
It shares the same engine and frame as the C 400 X, but the GT is meant for touring.
It has many great features as dual front disc brakes, 6.5-inch TFT screen, etc.

The 2019 BMW C 400 GT was introduced at EICMA 2018 as part of BMW Motorrad’s Urban Mobility range.

The C 400 GT is geared as a grand touring (hence “GT”) maxi scooter despite sharing the same platform as the popular C 400 X. The latter has won many awards as the best scooter in European countries, by the way.

Its 350cc, SOHC, four-valve engine produces 34 bhp at 7,500 RPM and 35 Nm of torque at 6,000 RPM. It is mated to a steel underbone frame of the X, but the suspension is revised. The GT has more bodywork and a larger screen for protection against the elements. The seat is also larger for long-range comfort.

It uses 43mm telescopic forks that are mated to a 15-inch front wheel. The rear is suspended by twin shocks with a 14-inch wheel. The C 400 GT uses two 265mm discs in front, gripped by two four-piston calipers. The rear brake is also a 265mm disc but handled by a single-piston caliper.

Touring capabilities include improved storage spaces, consisting of two glove boxes and a flex-case under the seat. Other standard features are all-around LED lighting, keyless ignition, two-channel ABS, steel-braided brake hoses and stability control.

Of course, BMW Motorrad offers plenty of options. Customers can choose between the analog/LCD or 6.5-inch full-colour TFT instrument panel. The latter option hooks up multimedia functions such as your smartphone, music and GPS.

KTM RC16 MotoGP Racebike for Sale

KTM is putting up the former RC16 MotoGP racebike for private sale.
The owner will receive a number of attractive gifts in the process.
Only two are available at €250,000 each.

Step right up, step right up! Your wish of owning a MotoGP bike is now answered. Just place your entire life savings for this KTM RC16 MotoGP racebike!

KTM’s CEO Stefan Pierer did announce that a road-legal bike based on the RC16 MotoGP racer will be available someday. The Austrian factory has yet to launch one, probably pending success in the series first.

But! You can now own a KTM RC16 MotoGP racebike. The factory is selling two former RC16 for private purchase.

KTM will throw in a dream goodie bag. It includes a full set of riding gear from Pol Espargaro (racesuit, gloves, boots, etc.) and a signed AGV helmet.

Additionally, the owner can choose to be apart of the Red Bull KTM MotoGP factory team for one weekend of his or her own choice. Goodies include paddock tour, pitbox tour, meet and greet with Johann Zarco and Pol Espargaro, and a set of Red Bull KTM team apparel.

It is still a good deal because a special weekend pass like that could cost at USD 10,000 (RM 41,865.00). RC16 not included.

Interested? Please prepare €250,000 (RM 1,190,273.23). Oh, they’re not street legal, of course.

New MIPS Liner Helmet Technology May Save More Lives

The MIPS liner allows more space for the head to move inside the helmet in the event of a crash.
Consequently, the wearer’s head does not absorb the impact energy directly.
The creators hope more helmet manufacturers will pick up on the technology.

The EICMA show is not just about new bikes but also new technologies. The MIPS liner was one such highlight at the 2018 edition..

MIPS stands for “Multi-directional Impact Protection System.” It allows the wearer’s head to move inside the helmet should there be an impact.

Wait, allows the head to move around? We have to remember that the extent of injuries resulted from not how one crashed, instead they are dependent on how one stopped after the crash.

That is exactly what the EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) liner in a helmet addresses. The EPS liner is that thick, white-coloured liner which sits between the comfort liner (cushion) and the hard helmet shell. It crushes to absorb the impact energy by extending the distance for the head to move inside the helmet. The head does not stopped abruptly, as a result. This is the same concept behind crush zones for cars.

However, according to the MIPS Board, the EPS liner is not in doing its job enough. The origins of the MIPS liner go back to the 1990s when a neurosurgeon (brain surgeon) found many brain injuries despite the patients wearing helmets.

Helmet tests involve assessing how much energy is transferred to sensors or a head form within the helmet. The impact results from striking the helmet directly at 90^o. In the real world, however, contacting an object perpendicularly is a rarity. Instead, it’s usually a glancing blow (due to the helmet’s round shape, among other things).

Striking an object at an angle other than perpendicularly sends a rotational force through the helmet. The soft tissue in the brain is subjected to shearing forces. It is like tearing raw meat away from the bone. It is this very factor which causes the worse brain injuries.

With the MIPS liner in place, the head has another 10- to 15mm of movement. The MIPS Board claims that it reduces force transmission by up to another 40%.

There are eight different MIPS liners for different applications in motorcycling, cycling and snowboarding. The MIPS Board aims to push the technology to present helmet makers, but they admit that the take up is slow. However, professional riders have shown much interest.

Source: MCN

Be a Smart Consumer When Choosing Tyres

A workshop wanted to con me by selling an old Bridgestone Battlax BT23 front tyre.
That was after he said that the new Bridgestone Battlax T31 front tyre causes the front to wobble.
It turned out that he was talking about the GT version which is meant for heavyweight bikes.

“Be a smart consumer.” That’s what I always tell my friends.

The tyres on my 2012 Kawasaki ER-6f had worn smooth. I was using the Bridgestone Battlax T-30 Evo prior so it’s only natural that I selected the new Battlax T31.

When I went hunting for the Battlax T31 about two months ago, it was out of stock at my regular workshop for more than 20 years, Sunny Cycle. But I needed a new rear desperately as the old tyre’s carcass was starting to show.

But another shop along Jalan Ipoh had them in stock.

However, the head mechanic said, “T31 rear is okay, but the front causes the bike to goyang (wobble).” I was surprised because apart from the old BT21, the subsequent BT23, T30 and T30 Evo didn’t cause any “wobbles.”

“You sure you still want the T31 front?” he pressed. “I recommend that you use T31 at the back and BT23 in front,” he continued.

That set the alarm bells in head my ringing. I rejected the BT23 insisted on the T31 front. Bridgestone had stopped producing the BT23 more than 5 years ago! It was succeeded by the excellent Battlax T30.

He went into his store and came back with a set of T31. I was surprised to find the Battlax T31 GT for the front! Now wait a minute. The T31 GT version is meant for heavyweight sport-tourers such as the BMW R 1200 RT, Kawasaki 1400GTR, Yamaha FJR1300, Honda VFR1200, …. You get the idea.

The carcass and sidewalls of the GT version are stiffer to support the weight of such heavy bikes. On the other hand, middleweight bikes such as the ER-6, Versys 650 and all the way to the 900cc sport-tourers lack the weight to deflect the GT tyre into their intended form. Consequently, the tyre doesn’t have enough contact patch with the road. Apart from that, the compound on GT tyres are slightly harder, again to compensate for the extra weight. Both these factors will cause the front end to goyang if fitted to lighter bikes!

So, I decided to stick with the worn T30 Evo in front and mount the new T31 at the back. I later found out that there were stacks upon stacks of new BT-23 tyres in his store when I went to the bathroom!

There’s more heartache to come.

The mechanic laid the wheel on the bare concrete floor and pried out the tyre. I’ve now got scratches all around the rim. He then used an impact wrench to pound in the rear axle’s nut. I’m going to have trouble unlocking that nut to adjust the chain.

I paid for the tyre and got the heck out of there.

I got a call from Sunny Cycle when the T31 arrived. JS, the head mechanic tended to my bike.

He removed the wheel and stuck his fingers into the hub cavity to check if the bearings were still good. He then used a tyre change machine to remove the old tyre. He followed up with balancing the tyre.

He locked the wheel and brake calipers in place with a torque wrench, instead of the dreaded pneumatic impact wrench. Finally, he checked everything one more time before inflating the pressure to my preference.

I rode the bike with the new tyre to Jitra, Kedah and back, for a total of 912 kilometres. We even rode in the type of rain which obscures almost all our vision. We rode at crawling speeds all the way up to more than 180 km/h.

Did the Battlax T31 front tyre goyang? NOT ONE BIT!

I hope you got the message. I found out about the T31 GT through research and reading and insisted that I didn’t want it.

So, please do your research. Read more. Be a smart consumer instead of trusting some unscrupulous mechanic.

JPJ Warns Motorcycle Workshops Against Modifications

The Perlis state JPJ sent a warning to motorcycle shops and owners against illegal modifications.
The Department caught fifteen modified Yamaha Y15ZRs during an operation.
Among the modifications are to increase top speeds and excessively loud exhausts.

The JPJ (Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan or Road Transport Ministry, in English) has warned motorcycle workshops against modifying motorcycles.

Shahrul Azhar Mat Dali, Director of JPJ Perlis sent the warning after catching a number of modified motorcycles. 15 modified Yamaha Y15ZRs discovered during an operation on the night of 26^thNovember 2018. The department is aware there are a number of workshops carrying out the illegal modifications in the state.

“The customers who request modifications and the workshops agreeing to it are both complicit,” he continued.

“If we catch any more individuals who modified their bikes, the owners will be investigated under Section 114 of the Road Transport Act 1987. If found to be true, the motorcycles will be confiscated, and the owners charged under Section 64(1) of the same Act.”

The Director further added that the JPJ has identified three main active locations of carrying out the modifications. They are Beseri, Serian and Arau. The main offences are modifying motorcycles for more speed and using exhausts that are excessively loud.

The operation is part of JPJ’s advocation program to educate motorcyclists to adhere to road laws. This is in view of the high number of fatalities among motorcyclists in the country.

He also advised all road users to report offences to the JPJ. The Department in Perlis can be reached at 04-9763995 or through email p.perlis@jpj.gov.my.

Sourced from Bernama.

Bikesrepublic

Latest News

The 2019 Moto Guzzi V85 TT adventure’s price has been revealed in America.

The V85 TT is full of features to rival other bikes in the category.

It is aggressively priced among its rivals.

The 2019 BMW C 400 GT was introduced at EICMA 2018.

It shares the same engine and frame as the C 400 X, but the GT is meant for touring.

It has many great features as dual front disc brakes, 6.5-inch TFT screen, etc.

KTM is putting up the former RC16 MotoGP racebike for private sale.

The owner will receive a number of attractive gifts in the process.

Only two are available at €250,000 each.

The MIPS liner allows more space for the head to move inside the helmet in the event of a crash.

Consequently, the wearer’s head does not absorb the impact energy directly.

The creators hope more helmet manufacturers will pick up on the technology.

A workshop wanted to con me by selling an old Bridgestone Battlax BT23 front tyre.

That was after he said that the new Bridgestone Battlax T31 front tyre causes the front to wobble.

It turned out that he was talking about the GT version which is meant for heavyweight bikes.

The Perlis state JPJ sent a warning to motorcycle shops and owners against illegal modifications.

The Department caught fifteen modified Yamaha Y15ZRs during an operation.

Among the modifications are to increase top speeds and excessively loud exhausts.

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